Outreach Programs

Enriching Lives Through Art

The ceramic arts are incredibly enriching--it’s an approachable art form that is rewarding for beginners, yet endlessly challenging. Our programs are designed to nurture budding artists of all ages, and provide a creative outlet for youth and adults alike.

We’re proud to bring quality clay programming to schools and community centers in not only our home of Port Chester, but the surrounding communities of Rye, Scarsdale, Rye Brook, White Plains and Connecticut.

Community Partnerships

Port Chester Recreation Department

During the school year young students learn about clay and culture while creating imaginative artworks and building problem solving skills.

Don Bosco Community Center

Since 2005 students of the Don Bosco community Center have worked with teaching artists to create incredible ceramic artworks and community mosaics.

Community Events

Port Chester Melting Pot(s)

Empty Bowls

Since 2001 when Clay Art Center hosted its first Empty Bowls event we have raised more than $71,000 to help feed the hungry in our local community and raise awareness about hunger in Westchester County. Handmade bowls created by artists and students are sold at an event with our partner the Rye Presbyterian Church. All proceeds from the sale are donated to the Interfaith Soup Kitchen of Port Chester.

Clay Coming Together Workshops

Clay Art Center offers free intergenerational workshops to the Port Chester Community. During these monthly workshops, children, teens, adults and seniors work together to create unique clay creations while learning about the origins of clay. Each year more than 200 community members have joined us to discover the magical qualities of clay.

School Partnerships

“Around the World in Clay” | Port Chester High School

CAC invites Port Chester High School and Middle School students to participate in a free year-round clay program highlighting the ceramic traditions of Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Each year students visit cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC which teach students to look at, speak about, and appreciate artwork. Paid internships offer job training with positive role models and give students real world experience in the arts.

“Hands in Clay” | The Carver Center and The Port Chester School District

This needs-based after school program at the JFK Early Learning Center brings together more than 100 students to learn from artists.

“Counting Down to Clay” | Longfellow Elementary School, Mount Vernon

During this 8-week residency, students combined math and art to create imaginative cityscapes.

“Celebrate the Seasons” | JFK Magnet Center, Port Chester

Each year 120 fifth grade students at JFK Magnet School leave their creative mark in the school’s courtyard garden. Working with teaching artists, students create clay tiles showing the many elements of the ecosystem as it changes throughout the year.

“Community in Clay” | Thomas Edison Elementary, Port Chester

Teaching artists, school administration and classroom teachers worked together to integrate clay into social studies curriculum. Over 225 students created clay tiles that were incorporated into a permanent ceramic mosaic to beautify the school’s courtyard and involve the students in improving their community.

Japanese Tea Ceremony | Quaker Ridge Elementary School, Scarsdale

Each spring Quaker Ridge Elementary School's fourth grade supplements their world history curriculum by visiting the center to learn about the ceramic traditions of Japan. With the guidance of a teaching artist, each student creates their own unique tea bowl to be used in a traditional tea ceremony in their classroom.

Teacher Training and Professional Development

Teaching artists work with local pre-K and K-12 teachers to sharpen their ceramic skills and advance their knowledge of kilns, clay bodies and glazes. Recent workshops have included teachers in the Mount Vernon School District and Christ Church Nursery School.

Additional After School Programming

Clay Art Center is the best resource for area schools and community organizations that wish to include the magic of clay in their after school programming. Currently CAC brings clay to 23 schools in Westchester and Fairfield Counties. Partnerships have included: